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Course description

**DISTANCE LEARNING COURSE**

NEC's suite of playwork qualifications provide in-depth information about the role of the level 3 playworker. This home study course in playwork is mainly knowledge-based with a limited amount of practical application in a work setting required. It covers all the areas you need to learn about to be competent and confident working in a playwork setting, including health and safety, relationships in the play environment and young people’s self-directed play. The qualification will give learners the skills, knowledge and understanding required for playworkers at Level 3 based on the National Occupational Standards.

Course content

Award in Playwork units

Understand playwork principles

Understand children and young people's self-directed play

Understand how to safeguard the wellbeing of children and young people's play

Certificate in Playwork units

Understand the organisational framework for play

Understand how to support positive outcomes for children and young people

Understand relationships in the play environment

Understand health, safety and security in the play environment

Understand how to plan for and support children and young people's self-directed play

Engage in personal development in health, social care of children and young people's settings

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements but you will need to be at least 18 years of age and working or volunteering in a play environment. You will also need to be competent in using the internet and working with electronic documents.

Assessment

This course is delivered online and assessment will consist of a portfolio of evidence in different formats such as learning plans, written tasks and discussions and direct observation.

Financial information

**FEES PAYABLE**

It’s your choice: pay in full and discount your course fees, or spread the cost with our finance offer. To pay in instalments, you will need to enrol by telephone.

NEC acts as a credit intermediary and only offers credit through Pay4Later with Omni Capital finance. Finance is offered subject to age and status. Other options available, please contact us for details or to enrol.

NEC will register you for this qualification with the Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education (CACHE).The £95 registration fee is not included in your course fee and will need to be paid in addition at the time of enrolment.

Further information

To achieve the Certificate in Playwork you'll need to complete the three units making up the Award in Playwork and the six that make up the Certificate: nine units totalling 32 credits. See the Topics section for the full list.

You’ll work through this course using the NEC Laser: an online learning system that makes completing your course – submitting your work, doing activities and getting feedback – straightforward and enjoyable. The system is easy to use and all the work you complete is recorded in your learner profile, forming an online portfolio.

As this course is delivered online, you will need a computer with an internet connection, word processing software, Flash Player and Acrobat Reader. You will need to be confident using the internet, sending and receiving emails with attachments and producing basic documents using a word processor. We also recommend that you use Skype, and that you have a webcam for this course.

As well as leading to a qualification in its own right, this course forms part of the Diploma in Playwork (QCF) and carries 32 credits towards the higher-level qualifications.

This course requires you to have a regular work placement in a playwork setting. Your setting must be able to arrange one or more sessions of practical assessments. You will need to gather evidence from your setting such as accident reports, health and safety procedures, feedback on child behaviour. Your face-to-face assessor will require you to talk about your experiences at your setting.

You will need to give details of the workplace setting when you enrol, and your manager will need to confirm some information.

To gain this qualification you will need to register with CACHE. We will take care of this process, but you will need to pay an additional registration fee which is not included in the price of your course.

If you are based overseas it is essential that you contact our course advice team before enrolling on this course.

How to apply

If you want to apply for this course, you will need to contact National Extension College *Fees Payable* directly.